MIFF Summer Screenings: Ego - The Michael Gudinski Story

The Melbourne International Film Festival returns to Bunjil Place to present some of the best from the 2023 festival.

Presented over four nights under the stars, complete with live performances, Q&A with filmmakers, mouthwatering menu and delicious drinks – this is a cinematic experience not to be missed! 

Tickets are $10 and a include complimentary beverage on arrival. 

This film is classified M and is recommended for mature audiences.  

_{The event will be moved in doors in the case of bad weather.}

EVENT SCHEDULE

• 7.00 pm: Gates Open & Pre-film live performance   by Scott Darlow
• 8.00 pm: Feature film – Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story (M) 
• 10.00 pm: Event ends 

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story 

Director: Paul Goldman 
Origin: Australia (2023) 
language: English 

The wild ride of maverick entrepreneur Michael Gudinski, who defied convention and revolutionised the Australian music industry over five decades. 

Michael Gudinski was a music man, impresario and natural-born hustler. He repeatedly risked everything for his one obsession: Australian music. At age 19, he launched Mushroom Records and went on to sign and nurture iconic artists including Skyhooks, Split Enz, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, Hunters & Collectors, Kylie Minogue, Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi. But he wasn’t content with just a label – his hunger extended to being on the road promoting legendary international acts such as Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. There’s barely a living Australian whose life hasn’t been touched by the music he was behind. 

Helmed by acclaimed feature film, documentary and music video director Paul Goldman (Suburban Mayhem, MIFF 2006; Australian Rules, MIFF 2002) and produced by Bethany Jones (Molly: The Real Thing) for Mushroom Studios, Ego features personal accounts from Gudinski himself, exclusive interviews with some of the world’s most influential artists, rare archival footage and an electrifying soundtrack. Tracing its subject’s rise from shy son of immigrant Jewish parents to audacious international player and Australian household name, the film dives into Gudinski’s psyche and unorthodox tactics, his successes and failures, and reveals the unstoppable frontman of a cultural movement and music empire. 

Scott Darlow

Since entering the Australian music scene in 2003, Yorta Yorta descendent Scott Darlow has been a mainstay of Australia’s Indigenous and independent music industry. The versatile singer-songwriter, guitarist, and didgeridoo player has sold more than 50,000 albums worldwide and has extensively toured Australia, Asia and the USA.  

Darlow has released four albums to-date; two with his first band "The Darlow Show," and most recent as a solo artist. His landmark album, Sorry, released November 2016 to critical acclaim with Rolling Stone describing the album as, “...front-foot rock, oozing in confidence and honesty...with originals that cross the spectrum from country to heartland rock, to more traditional pop, all unified by Darlow’s passionate, anthemic approach.” His first single from the album is a cover of Goanna’s 1982 hit, “Solid Rock,” and features Goanna frontman and writer Shane Howard. The song reached #6 on the Australian iTunes charts and became most played rock song on Australian radio in February 2016 with heavy rotation on Rock radio network, Triple M. The second single on the record, Down Like Flies was in June 2016 added to radio stations all over the UK and South Africa. In January 2017, the albums title track, Sorry, was added across the board nationally on rock radio network Triple M.